In a significant financial agreement related to the opioid crisis, Kroger, which operates Ralphs among other subsidiaries in California, is to pay the Golden State upwards of $120 million. This payment is part of a larger $1.37 billion settlement just announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, according to KTLA. The financial recompense comes as a response to accusations that the corporation did not adequately supervise opioid dispensing at its pharmacies.

"The settlement will resolve allegations that the company failed to appropriately oversee the dispensing of opioids at its pharmacies," as stated by the Office of the Attorney General. Early in 2025 is to expectedly begin the flow of payments, which are earmarked for opioid abatement throughout the state.

Accountability is a cornerstone of the settlement. "At the California Department of Justice, we are committed to holding entities, like Kroger, accountable for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic," Bonta stated, indicating that the funds will be put to use for "comprehensive prevention, treatment and recovery programs, and other resources" to combat the far-reaching effects of the crisis, as per the Office of the Attorney General.

As part of the agreement, Kroger has agreed to also implement measures to more closely monitor, report, and share data related to potentially dubious opioid prescriptions. "Today’s announcement builds on our commitment in our continued fight for justice and relief," Bonta said. Highlighted in discussions of the crisis is the surge in fentanyl-related fatalities, with a reported jump from 429 confirmed deaths in 2017 to 5,722 in 2021, according to the California Department of Public Health, as explained by CBS News Los Angeles.